This included a more aggressive cam profile, a larger bore with a shortened stroke, a new, short skirt piston and titanium rather than steel valves.
Because for many years the four-stroke class displacement limit was 440 cubic centimeters, many racing sanctions bumped this number up to allow the new 450 cc bikes and ATVs to compete.
Along with the introduction of the TRX 450R, Honda announced, after 17 years, it would once again support factory sponsored racing.
The sponsored Honda team would compete in the ATVA MX and TT Nationals in the Pro-Production class.
The 450R would also compete in the Grand National Cross Country series although Honda would not sponsor any riders.